General

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is an award-winning, independent public agency that provides affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and people living with disabilities in the nation's capital, one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country.

The authority works closely with residents, landlords, and the federal and DC governments to improve the quality of life in the District through better housing and diverse neighborhoods. We provide housing for approximately 10 percent of the city's residents through three avenues:

DCHA owns and operates 8,000 units of rental housing under its public housing program.

DCHA administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8), working in cooperation with more than 3,000 landlords all across DC.

DCHA builds better communities. Through the federal government's HOPE VI competitive grant program, and by working with nonprofit and private developers, DCHA has developed vital mixed income communities where the city's most distressed public housing projects once stood. DCHA also revitalizes older properties through innovative partnerships with other DC public agencies, nonprofit organizations and real estate developers.

In addition to providing quality housing, DCHA actively helps its residents grow both personally and professionally through a variety of economic development and self-sufficiency programs. DCHA works cooperatively with social service providers to facilitate resident access to other supportive services.